Ms Suares started her career in training, creating in-service workshops for faculty at various international schools in Europe while working as teacher at the International Bilingual School in Paris in France and at the American School of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.
Ms Suares is an experienced marketing communications professional with a unique combination of skills. She held positions as Director of Marketing Communications, Creative Services Manager and International Public Relations Coordinator at various HighTech companies in the Silicon Valley. She also was the co-founder of an e-commerce store. Her strong management background complements these experiences.
Ms Suares is also a certified translator and interpreter, using her foreign language skills to translate, copy-edit, and localize content for high tech and publishing companies.
Ms Suares holds a Masters Degree in Instructional Technologies, Design and Development from San Jose State University, a Bachelors Degree from London University, (London, United Kingdom). She has three certificates, in: Marketing Communications, Electronic Commerce Management, Translations and Interpretations. She also has two teaching credentials: one in Vocational Education (Office Occupations, Marketing Communications and Business Management); and a K-12 Teaching Credential from France. She is currently finishing her administrative credential in supervision and coordination.
In her spare time, Valerie is an avid skier and sailor. Her main hobbies include photography, sewing, and embroidery. During the Summer 2006, she participated in the Leukemia's Cup in the San Francisco Bay area and fundraised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.